Weekend International Round Up

Gastón Ramírez was the only international Saint to taste success from the four players representing their countries over the weekend.

Ramirez played 68 minutes of Uruguay’s 8-0 thumping of Tahiti in their final group match at the 2013 FIFA Confederations on Sunday evening. The result ensured that the South Americans will be in the last four of the tournament in Brazil.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez replaced Ramírez with just over 20 minutes remaining, and struck twice to secure Uruguay’s passage alongside Spain in the semi-finals. Ramírez’s side will take on the hosts in the last four on Wednesday.

In Group A, Maya Yoshida was a 64th minute substitute for Japan, who were defeated 2-1 in their final game at the tournament, leaving them without any points for their efforts in Brazil.

Yoshida entered the action with the Samurai Blue 1-0 down and, although they pulled it back to 2-1 on 88 minutes, Japan’s goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was called upon to deny Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez a hat-trick by saving the frontman’s last-minute penalty.

Meanwhile, over in Turkey, the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup got underway on Friday night. Saints Under-21 goalkeeper Cody Cropper played the full match for USA, who were beaten 4-1 by a much-fancied Spain side.

Cropper is in action again this evening when the States take on France in Istanbul at 6pm.

Last night in Group E of the competition, James Ward-Prowse played the full 90 minutes and had a hand in one of the goals for England’s Under-20 side, who were dramatically held to a 2-2 draw in their opening fixture with Iraq.

The Young Lions had led 2-0 with the opening strike by Liverpool’s Conor Coady arriving from a Ward-Prowse corner. Luke Williams of Middlesbrough doubled the lead, before the Iraqis pulled one back through a 75th-minute penalty.

The late heartbreak arrived in the third minute of stoppage time when Ali Adnan popped up to rescue a point for England’s opponents.

Ward-Prowse and co will have a chance to put the disappointment behind them when they play Chile on Wednesday in Antalya.